Time for Bloom of Lady Slipper Orchids in Mass

16 years ago

Am trying to find out when the Native Lady Slipper Orchids bloom in Massachusetts. When I was a child, I found a valley in a woods near a watershed full of them, and it was very very magical... want to go back.

Comments (3)

joepyeweed
16 years ago
Most likely May...
some may bloom in April, depending upon the weather.
tee530
16 years ago
Depends which of the slippers you're looking for.

The most common is Cypripedium acaule, the pink lady's slipper, or moccasin flower. These typically open around mid-May in eastern MA, and maybe last 10 days to two weeks.

Rarer around here are Cypripedium parviflorum, the yellow lady's slipper, which blooms around the same time, and Cypripedium reginae, the showy lady's slipper, which blooms later, in June. So unfortunately for this year, I think the slippers are done.
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Various species of orchids are among the most common native plants in some of our local ecosystems. Calypsos by the billions (not millions) and various cypripediums as far as the eye can see. I applaud a posting above that dismisses the hyseria about 'orchids' as endangered, etc. there are 'specific' plants protected in some regions but not 'orchids' everywhere. Some lady slippers are among the easiest of native plants to grow. Some are more difficult. This however is often dependent on the ecology of where one lives...no different than trying to grow any plant. I can transplant a yellow slipper from one area of the garden to another and it doesn't even hiccup. If I try the same with a non native (to our area) slipper such as Cypripedium regina it will take a year to recover....if ever.
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I also have lady slippers on my property, and the critters get them from time to time. Sometimes they just disappear, only to return a few years later, so I guess the "rest" thing is accurate. Also, when I find them on other properties around here, they are mainly in pine needle duff in fairly dry areas of very acidic soils. I still have the acid soils, but many pine trees are dying out and have been replaced with hardwoods. Maybe that is a problem for you, too? As for light exposure, I have seen them in bright sunlight up in the mountains and in both light and deep shade in the Piedmont, so I don't think that is the cause. They are the most temperamental of the terrestrial orchids...just attended a presentation about US orchids, and the speaker said they are the most difficult to keep going. Good luck.
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williamr
13 years ago
Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but I recently acquired three Cypripedium acaule, and was wondering what time they usually die-back in the late summer/fall? I am growing them in a pot with well-drained acid soil, and plan to refrigerate them during our summer and grow them outdoors during our winter (being in the Orlando area).

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Time for Bloom of Lady Slipper Orchids in Mass

Comments (3)

joepyeweed

tee530

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williamr

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